Food & Drink Intro

This page now serves as a fairly robust jumping off point for all sorts of food and drink sections of CTMQ. The state has maintained some culinary “trails” over the years and I’ve done them all. I’ve also created a few “trails” of my own to keep my wife and kids happy. Others like classic diners and my international food keep things interesting for me. Bon Appetit and Cheers!

The Food

Michael and Jane Stern’s “Things to Eat in Connecticut Before it’s Too Late” The Sterns of Roadfood fame lived in Connecticut when they put the definitive book of America’s “roadfood” joints together. I pulled out the 63 Connecticut entries and ate them all. Check out Roadfood’s Eat Before you Die List.

Classic – I mean real Classic Diners – Just what it says it is, although I’ve admittedly included some non-classic diners in my writings. Decide for yourself.

Homemade Ice Cream Joints – Finally, a list I created that my whole family can get behind! I try to update and revise this rather expansive list each year. And we try to visit as many as possible. Then I write about them. Then you read about them, here.

Connecticut Cheese Trail – I created this list of local cheesemakers in 2009 or so and to be honest, I can’t believe the state hasn’t jumped on board yet. I like cheese. Who doesn’t like cheese? Cheese, glorious Connecticut cheese!

Connecticut Chocolate Trail – This list is actually state-sanctioned and they change it up every year. So every year I capture their trail and include it on my ever-growing chocolate trail: which you can check out here.

YummY!!! Rich’s ice cream is the best (Oxford), Big Dipper (Prospect), and I still love Dippy’s ice cream on Lakewood Rd Waterbury, which used to be Carvel!!
Think I need to go get some ice cream, right now!

You should try Clamps on Route 202 in New Milford, just south of Marbledale. There really is no sign, a very small one you won’t see when driving by on the side of the building that says “Clamps est. 1939”. We all wait impatiently for Clamps to open, usually sometime at the end of April. The chalk board comes out announcing the opening which starts my mouth to watering. It is not just a great place to eat, it is a long standing tradition for many who live here or visit the area, especially those who are heading north to nearby Lake Waramaug.

Since there is no sign, no phone, no indication of where it will be, I will give you a hint, it is just about across the street from Sawyer Hill Rd in New Milford!